How to Protect Teens in the Age of Social Media

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How to Protect Teens in the Age of Social Media

If you’ve been worried about your teen’s social media usage, it would seem your concerns are now legitimized by hard facts and figures.

Recent Congressional testimony by former Facebook data scientist Frances Haugen supports the notion that Facebook and its photo-sharing app, Instagram, can be harmful to young users. Haugen recently presented internal studies revealing the negative mental health impacts of Instagram and told Congress that Facebook has prioritized growth over its users’ safety.

Those who have been working toward keeping young people safe online for years say that parents will need to step up to protect their kids.

“Parents should not rely on social media networks to ensure their children’s safety online,” says Michele Havner, director of marketing at Eturi Corp., maker of OurPact, a leading parental control and screen time app. “This is one of the many reasons why we’ve developed OurPact so parents can teach smart digital habits and protect their kids.”

According to Havner, here are a few ways you can help protect teens in the age of social media:

• Set digital schedules. Feeling “addicted” to social media and screens in general is common. However, setting digital schedules can help ensure that you and your teen are leading a balanced life.

• Block unwanted apps and websites: Ensure your teen is only using apps and visiting sites that are approved by you. Using parental control apps to block apps, websites and contacts as needed can help you protect your child from unsafe people and content.

• Maintain open communication: The newly released research draws links between social media usage and depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. Be sure to regularly check in with your teen and keep the lines of communication open.

• Use new tools: New tech tools can help you get a handle on your teen’s social media usage, as well as help you help them carve out healthy digital habits. For example, OurPact, a parental guidance app used by over 1 million families, allows you to create automated schedules for when internet and apps are unavailable, block access to the device for a specified period of time, whitelist, and blacklist websites, and even take screenshots of digital activity. Available at the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, parents can also sign up for an account at www.ourpact.com.

Ultimately, keeping kids safe is critical. With tech tools and an open dialogue, parents can help kids form healthy digital habits.

VIDEO: Hawaii Five-Flow: Quake And Poison Gas Risks Still High At Volcano Summit

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VIDEO: Hawaii Five-Flow: Quake And Poison Gas Risks Still High At Volcano Summit

By Joseph Golder

Lava flow appears to be slowing at the Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii as the latest eruption approaches its fourth week, though earthquake risks remain.

The latest footage, shared Oct. 18 by the U.S. Geological Survey, shows lava flow seems more subdued, though the agency says gas and seismic activity at the summit remain high.

Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The current eruption began on Sept. 29.

Commenting on the video, the agency said: “A morning overflight of Kīlauea summit on October 15, 2021, provided aerial views of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u. Lava erupts from a single vent on the western wall of the crater. The vent has a spatter cone around it, with an opening to the east from which lava flows into the lava lake.”

The government website said earthquake hazards occur regularly in Hawaii. “Frequent and long-lasting eruptions and recurrent strong earthquakes in Hawai‘i create a unique combination of natural hazards for people across the Hawaiian Islands.”

“The Kīlauea volcano has alternated between centuries-long periods of dominantly effusive (lava flow) and dominantly explosive eruptions.”

The active west vent of Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of the Kilauea volcano, as seen from the northwest rim on Oct. 16, 2021. (USGS, E. Gallant/Zenger)

Lava flows are especially dangerous.

They erupt from a volcano’s summit or along rift zones on its flanks. Lava flows travel down slope toward the ocean, burying everything in its path.

When lava flows enter the ocean, it can build new land, called lava deltas, that are prone to sudden collapse. That collapse can trigger explosive activity that hurls hot rocks hundreds of yards inland and/or seaward, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Lava gushing in the Halema’uma’u crater, at the summit of the Kilauea volcano, on October 12, 2021. The state of Hawaii is made up of 137 volcanic islands. (USGS/Zenger)

Kīlauea is a highly active shield volcano — so called because its lava flows have broad sloping sides, and it’s generally surrounded by sloping hills in a pattern that looks like a warrior’s shield.

Believed to be between 210,000 and 280,000 years old, the volcano emerged from the sea about 100,000 years ago. Kilauea is located on Hawai’i, the official name of the largest island in the archipelago, also called the Big Island. (It should not be confused with Hawaii, the state.)

The Hawai’i island consists of five volcanoes, four of which are classified as active: Kīlauea, Mauna, Mauna Loa, Hualālai and Mauna Kea. In fact, Hawaii, the only U.S. state not in North America, is made up of 137 volcanic islands.

Kīlauea’s last major eruption took place between May and September 2018 and led to thousands of local residents being displaced and the destruction of 716 homes. That event saw lava oozing from 24 different vents with one major explosion sending debris flying 30,000 feet into the sky.

Edited by Fern Siegel and Kristen Butler



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VIDEO: Brave Florida Cop Saves Boy From House Fire

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VIDEO: Brave Florida Cop Saves Boy From House Fire

By Joseph Golder

A Florida cop saved a 3-year-old boy from a house fire on Oct. 17.

Police body-cam footage shows a Flagler County officer approaching the house, as sirens are heard in the background. He is told, via radio, three people live in the home. The police officer reports he sees flames, but no one appears to be home.

He knocks on the door and shouts “sheriff’s office,” but gets no reply. Then he makes his way around back. A dog can be heard barking, and the officer reports animals are inside.

The patio door is unlocked and the officer makes his way in, where he is greeted by a young boy. “Where is your mommy?” the officer asks. He picks up the boy and heads outside, toward a fire engine. He then hands the boy to a female firefighter along with the boy’s phone, before running back to the burning house.

The footage was shared online by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, which said: “On October 17, 2021, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) responded to a residence in the W section of Palm Coast about a house fire. K-9 Deputy First Class (DFC) Marcus Dawson arrived at the scene and observed movement in the back master bedroom of the residence and found a 3-year-old hiding in fear.

Deputy Marcus Dawson, with a member of the Palm Coast Fire Department, the rescued toddler, and his father in Flagler County, Florida. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office/Zenger)

“DFC Dawson met with a neighbor who advised the fire started in the kitchen, and he had not seen the three occupants that day. Upon checking the exterior of the residence, DFC Dawson observed a fire on the stove that was spreading to the cabinets. There was thick black smoke filling the residence and dogs barking at the sliding glass door of the rear bedroom. DFC Dawson made verbal commands into the residence and did not receive any response.”

Dawson quickly searched the premises and discovered the child.

“The toddler immediately received medical attention and was cleared on scene. Upon meeting with the toddler’s father, it was determined the father went to pick up dinner and left the sleeping child home with an older sibling,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

The older sibling was not home when the rescue occurred.

Deputies save a 3-year-old child from a fire in Flagler County, Florida. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office/Zenger)

Sheriff Rick Staly said: “Without DFC Dawson immediately running toward danger, even without a safety respirator, this could have been a much different outcome.

“… thankfully, DFC Dawson’s training in emergency response allowed him to find this child and safely rescue him. This was a dangerous situation, and we are very proud of DFC Dawson’s bravery and commitment to serving this community and saving a life.”

The Palm Coast Fire Department believes the fire to be accidental and possibly cooking-related,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Edited by Fern Siegel and Kristen Butler



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VIDEO: Horror As Car Crushes Baby In Stroller On Sidewalk

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VIDEO: Horror As Car Crushes Baby In Stroller On Sidewalk

By Peter Barker

A hit-and-run collision in Los Angeles killed an 18-month-old boy who was in his stroller on the sidewalk on Oct. 17.

Video shows the two vehicles colliding at an intersection, and then one jumps the curb. The child and an unidentified pedestrian are hit. The child, whose identity was not released by police, died at the hospital. The conditon of the other person was not reported.

“The Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene and transported the victims to a local hospital. One of the victims was treated and released, but the child succumbed to his injuries and died. The name of the child will not be released until next-of-kin has been notified,” police said.

Around 7:35 a.m on Oct. 17, the Los Angeles Police Department said, “a fatal hit and run traffic collision occurred on Nordhoff Street and Langdon Avenue when a silver colored 2016 Honda HRV, heading westbound Nordhoff Street, sideswiped an approaching vehicle that was traveling eastbound Nordhoff Street as the Honda attempted to negotiate a left turn onto Langdon Avenue.

“The approaching vehicle was a grey colored sedan, 4-door, possibly a Toyota Camry. Due to the nature of the impact, the Honda HRV changed its direction and began heading towards the southeast corner that was populated by several pedestrians. The Honda HRV drove onto the sidewalk colliding with some of the pedestrians. One of the pedestrians was a one-and-a-half-year-old child who was in a stroller.

“The Honda HRV pinned the stroller and victim against a brick planter. The driver of the grey colored sedan continued to drive eastbound Nordhoff Street without stopping, identifying themselves, or attempting to render aid,” police said in their statement accompanying video of the incident.”

The short video shows the moment the Honda is knocked off course by the crash and ends up jumping the curb and landing on the sidewalk.

At the time of the posting on YouTube, police were searching for the driver of the car that took off.

“On April 15, 2015, the City Council amended the Los Angeles Administrative Code and created a Hit and Run Reward Program Trust Fund. A reward of up to $50,000 is available to community members who provide information leading to the offender’s identification, apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil compromise,” police said.

“Drivers are reminded that if they are involved in a traffic collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves.”

Edited by Judith Isacoff and Kristen Butler



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VIDEO: US Fish And Wildlife Service Celebrates As Endangered Colorado River Fish Numbers Pick Up

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VIDEO: US Fish And Wildlife Service Celebrates As Endangered Colorado River Fish Numbers Pick Up

By Joseph Golder

With a hard-to-miss hump behind its head and a colorful appearance — olive back, silver sides, white belly — the humpback chub would stand out in any waters. Now, it’s getting a significant upgrade in the world of species conservation: being reclassified from “endangered” to “threatened” under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

“Today’s action is the result of the collaborative conservation that is needed to ensure the recovery of listed species,” said Matt Hogan, acting Mountain-Prairie region director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Reclassifying this distinctive fish from endangered to threatened is the result of many years of cooperative work by conservation partners in the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. We thank everyone involved for their efforts as we look toward addressing the remaining challenges in the Colorado River Basin.”

The humpback chub’s presence was first documented in the lower Colorado River Basin in the Grand Canyon in the 1940s and the upper Colorado River Basin in the 1970s, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, researchers say the fish has been present in the Colorado River for approximately 3 to 5 million years.

As the fish’s habitat was altered and sometimes destroyed during dam construction, its existence became more at risk. The humpback chub was on the original list of endangered species in 1967.

The typical whitewater habitat of the humpback chub in Westwater Canyon in Utah in the United States. (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Brian Hines/Zenger)

“This fish is uniquely adapted to live in the swift and turbulent whitewater found in the river’s canyon-bound areas. The fleshy hump behind its head, which gives the fish its name, evolved to make it harder to be eaten by predators, and its large, curved fins allow the humpback chub to maintain its position in the swiftly moving current,” the Fish and Wildlife Service said in the statement.

The Upper Basin Recovery Program’s actions over the last 15 years have improved river flow conditions, to the point that all Upper Basin populations have stabilized or increased, according to the statement.

It warns that the reclassification is simply a sign of improvement and that the threat remains for the humpback chub.

Under the guidelines, a “threatened species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future” unless more efforts are made to protect it.

“Ongoing threats to the humpback chub that Recovery Program partners are addressing include threats from non-native species such as smallmouth bass in the upper basin, uncertainties related to river flow and the outcomes of a new cooperative agreement among partners in the Upper Basin Recovery Program,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.

Edited by Richard Pretorius and Kristen Butler



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VIDEO: Yacht A Snorty Boy: Sail Boat Skipper Seized With 6 Tons Of Cocaine On Board

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VIDEO: Yacht A Snorty Boy: Sail Boat Skipper Seized With 6 Tons Of Cocaine On Board

By Joseph Golder

Spanish police have seized what they are calling the largest cocaine haul ever from a sailing vessel.

Specifically, more than 5,200 kilograms (almost 6 tons) of cocaine was nabbed on Oct. 16 aboard a 77-foot, single-mast sailboat in the Atlantic Ocean off the Iberian Peninsula. The three people on board were arrested.

Though Spanish police did not disclose the identities of those taken into custody, they did say the trio had provided false names and raised a false flag to “camouflage a criminal action.” Among those arrested was a well-known sailor who is wanted in connection with another cocaine haul that was thwarted in March of last year, authorities said.

This latest operation took place after police investigations “began earlier this year into a multinational organization allegedly dedicated to the export of vast quantities of cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela to Europe,” police said.

“They did this by using pleasure boats, especially yachts and sailing boats. In this investigation process, and through the information constantly exchanged by the anti-drug agencies involved, it was possible to identify not only those who carried out the storage and export of the narcotic from South America, but also those who distributed the drug from Spain and Portugal to the rest of Europe.”

The single-mast sailboat that was carrying almost 6 tons of cocaine. (Spanish and Portuguese Police/Zenger)

Authorities knew in advance that the vessel, unnamed and flying a Spanish flag, was set to transport the shipment of cocaine in September to the Iberian Peninsula, where it would be picked up by faster vessels that would ferry the illegal drugs ashore.

The cocaine-laden vessel was boarded by an assault team from the Portuguese Navy, as well as agents from the Spanish National police and the Portuguese judiciary police.

Video taken after the bust shows agents navigating the vessel’s narrow corridors, which were filled with cocaine bales, as well as living quarters that housed more of the illegal drug packs. A subsequent shot shows all the bales from the boat displayed on a dock.

The seized sail boat’s corridors and living spaces were jammed with cocaine bales. (Spanish and Portuguese Police/Zenger)

In addition to Portuguese and Spanish authorities, the bust involved the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Anti-Narcotics Directorate of the National Police of Colombia.

Though authorities said the bust was the largest ever made on a sailboat, it pales in comparison to the biggest such seizures over time. Topping the list is the 89 tons of cocaine seized In November 2016 in Ecuador.

Edited by Matthew B. Hall and Kristen Butler



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‘Recovery Czar’ Overcomes Tragedy To Advocate Against Substance Abuse

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‘Recovery Czar’ Overcomes Tragedy To Advocate Against Substance Abuse

By Lem Satterfield

Barbara Allen is driven by her own pain to help ease it in others.

Through tragedy and adversity, Allen became an advocate for the healing of victims of substance abuse. The process has gien her solace and peace.

“I call Barbara Allen the czar of recovery,” said Beth Harbinson, a friend and associate. “Barbara’s philanthropy, activism, leadership and work ethic have enabled her to make meaningful contributions toward the improvement of services for those suffering from these diseases.”

The eldest of 10 siblings, Allen lost two younger brothers — one was shot and killed by a person on crystal methamphetamine, she said. Another overdosed on meth.

The deaths of her daughter at birth, and brothers “created a powerful resolve in me not to let any other loved ones die,“ said Allen, who lives with her husband, Tom, in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Allen’s son, James Lee Stallings, died from an overdose of heroin and alcohol in 2003. He was 35. When her son died, she said, “it shattered my heart.”

A stone beneath Barbara Allen’s office window is a memorial to her son, James Lee Stallings, who died in 2003 at age 35 of a heroin and alcohol overdose. Allen is the executive director of James’ Place, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for individuals seeking residence in recovery houses. (Courtesy Barbara Allen)

Allen treats her own heartache by helping others as executive director of James’ Place, a nonprofit established in her son’s name. She works to provide scholarships for individuals needing help to move into recovery houses and invests countless hours in advocacy.

“If you have to label me, I’m a recovering codependent parent,” said Allen. “I knew about 12-step meetings, but I didn’t know squat when I came into advocacy. After a couple of years of grief, I started researching. I came across an article about the war on drugs. I felt as if that opened the door to some freedom and put fresh air in my face.”

Numerous recovery house managers and regional program coordinators as Allen for information about how recovery houses work and how to access funding or scholarships for those in recovery.

“Barbara Allen helped with a scholarship for two guys who moved into my sober living house,” said Dean Branham, who runs the six-man Concrete Recovery facility in Catonsville, Maryland. “She did a great interview with both of them and has kept in touch … making sure the two gentlemen are doing well.

“She spoke with them for significant lengths of time, which I appreciated. She’s been a great resource for me to talk through some inconsistencies within the recovery world, helping me navigate some of the daily obstacles we face helping people in recovery deal with fatal and progressive illnesses,” he said.

Allen’s altruism has spread to a number of services nationwide, including Compassionate Friends, dedicated to addressing family bereavement.

In addition, serves at the Howard County’s Domestic Violence Center and named Howard County Woman Of The Year in 2020. She also works with the Harford County-based Addictions Connections Resource Center and the Baltimore County-based Daniel Torsch Foundation for families and those struggling with substance abuse, addiction and mental health.

“Barbara has worked tirelessly in Howard County and in the state of Maryland to improve the lives of people suffering from substance use disorder,” said Harbinson, founder of the nonprofit SOBAR, which provides healthy nonalcoholic beverages at public social events.

“I’ve had the honor of working with Barbara on the Opioid Crisis Community Council for the last two years. Barbara’s leadership in that capacity has enabled a group of providers, community advocates and lay people to work toward solutions related to the crisis we face in the county and across the nation.”

Allen advocates for ways to help people who may be intimidated by or unaware of how to approach the problem.

“The average person denied by their insurance provider for mental health or substance use care often doesn’t have the education to understand the problem, the resilience to keep nagging. They don’t feel entitled to keep nagging, and they can be intimidated when they’re asking for help,” said Allen, whose efforts extend to organizations in Virginia and West Virginia.

“Part of the work I do with Lt Gov. [Boyd Rutherford] is answering questions like: Where are the logjams? Where are the problems? What are they? And one of the major issues is the pay rate for providers. People can make a lot more money working anywhere else than by working in state correctional facilities or in behavioral health.

“My work in substance use disorder advocacy is very broad,” she said. “Pick a topic or a cause, and I’m working on it.”

Edited by Judith Isacoff and Fern Siegel



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Baring It All For The Sake Of The Dead Sea

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Baring It All For The Sake Of The Dead Sea

By Abigail Klein Leichman

When 200 men and women shed their clothing in the desert for a photo shoot on Oct. 17, it wasn’t for a risqué movie or social media stunt.

Rather, the project is designed to bring attention to the deterioration of Israel’s Dead Sea and the opening of the Dead Sea Museum in nearby Arad.

This was the third such photo session by American art photographer Spencer Tunick. A decade ago, he gathered some 1,100 people for an in-the-buff shoot at a Dead Sea beach that no longer exists.

Spencer Tunick, left, with Arad Mayor Nisan Ben-Hamo ahead of this year’s photoshoot. (Doron Orgil)
Spencer Tunick, left, with Arad Mayor Nisan Ben-Hamo ahead of this year’s photoshoot. (Doron Orgil)

The salty lake in the Judean desert does not receive enough freshwater to replenish itself and is heavily mined for minerals. Therefore, the water level drops about a meter (equivalent to a yard) per year and the ground caves in.

“The original installation site has all but disappeared and is no longer accessible due to dangerous sinkholes,” Tunick said.

In 2016, he returned for a smaller and more covert shoot at another point along the shore. That site, too, has fallen victim to sinkholes caused by the dissolution of underground layers of salt.

“I am hoping that my new work and the inauguration of the Dead Sea Museum that will be in Arad will inspire methods and technologies, environmentalism and conservancy, aimed at rebuilding and recondition the Dead Sea,” Tunick said.

Tunick said his works at the Dead Sea “attempt to poetically visually create pushback against the loss of a natural wonder of the world” and that the volunteers who stood barefoot on the rocky soil for the project help publicize the environmental challenges that must be overcome.

“For me, the body represents beauty and life and love,” Tunick told reporters against the backdrop of misty mountains facing Arad.

“When I think of the nude body I don’t think of violence and crime. I think of art and progress, togetherness and equality.”

Participants in Spencer Tunick’s photo shoot in Arad on Oct. 17. (Irit Eshet Mor/Arad Municipality)

The photo project was conceived by Ari Leon Fruchter, a social entrepreneur and co-founder of the Dead Sea Revival Project and the initiator of the virtual and actual Dead Sea Museum to be designed by Neuman Hayner Architects. Also involved is art consultant and curator Keren Bar Gil, Tunick’s exclusive representative in Israel.

Tunick’s entire collection of Dead Sea photos are on view in the virtual Dead Sea Museum until April 21, 2022.

Produced in association with Israel21C.



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The Tooth Is Out There: Prehistoric Teeth Could Be The Key To Dating ‘World’s Oldest Modern Human’

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The Tooth Is Out There: Prehistoric Teeth Could Be The Key To Dating ‘World’s Oldest Modern Human’

By Joseph Golder

When experts in China unearthed what they say could be the world’s oldest anatomically modern human remains ever discovered, it would have seemed natural to ask: How can they be so sure? 300,000 years ago, perhaps. How do they know?

Even a member of the team studying the more than 30 bones found in Hualong Cave in Anhui Province in eastern China points out the difficulties of proving the claim with 100 percent certainty.

University of Southern California Professor Kristian Carlson said in an interview that the “most useful line of evidence to achieve this would be to directly date one of the human fossils.”

“This would be a destructive process though, so it is clearly not advisable,” he said. Instead, he said to look to human teeth to be as sure as one can ever get in human dating accuracy.

“Some teeth of associated faunal remains were directly dated with success,” Carlson said. “This is encouraging if the human fossils were ever to be considered for undergoing direct dating attempts.”

Hualong Cave No. 6 (A) compared to the position of the perforation in the hard palate of other ancient human fossils. Researchers say using the teeth from the fossil may be the best way to accurately date it without destroying it. (Ancient Spine Institute, Chinese Academy Of Sciences/Zenger)

Carlson also points out that dating human fossils could also be a bit of a head game, specifically involving the breccia, or sedimentary rock, deposited “around and within” the human cranium. But it “provides a pretty solid estimate of minimum age for the deposition of the human cranium, although it still involves a range,” he said.

“There isn’t really a good way (at least rigorously) of being more precise within the range,” he said.

The Hualong Cave discoveries “proposes that the transition of human evolution from ancient to modern forms in East Asia occurred 300,000 years ago, which is 80,000 to 100,000 years earlier than previously known,” the researchers wrote in the Journal of Human Evolution.

Researchers Liu Wu and Wu Xiujie of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said that apart from brow and cheekbone features being similar to Homo erectus and ancient humans from the mid-Pleistocene period between 700,000 and 1.25 million years ago, the rest of the facial features are more like early-modern and modern humans.

“The comparative analysis of modern human specimens resulted in a series of new discoveries and understandings,” Liu Wu said.

The left maxilla and cheekbone of Hualongdong No. 6. (Ancient Spine Institute, Chinese Academy Of Sciences/Zenger)

“This also gives us some new guesses about human evolution. The initial transition event of human evolution to modern form is likely to occur in a relatively isolated local area, while other parts of China are still being affected by older humans.”

Since the cave project began in 2013, more than 30 ancient human fossils have been found as well as “hundreds of stone tools” and a high number of “mammalian fossils and traces of cuts and slashes on the surface of animal bones,” said a statement released by the Ancient Spine Institute of the Chinese Academy Of Sciences.

The researchers said there was still a lack of consensus among paleoanthropologists regarding when exactly ancient humans transformed into modern humans in East Asia.

“We believe that more ancient human fossil discoveries and studies will further reveal the emergence of modern humans on the East Asian continent and clarify disputes related to the origin of modern humans,” Liu Wu said.

Hualong Cave No. 6 face bone fossil. (Ancient Spine Institute, Chinese Academy Of Sciences/Zenger)

Carlson said working on the project had been a “dream,” and that he was “extremely grateful.”

“In many ways, this experience has fulfilled a long-running dream of mine since my undergraduate days to make a contribution to the field of study on modern human origins,” he said.

Carlson points out that “East Asia is one of the most important regions to consider when it comes to questions surrounding modern human origins, in part because of the long history of work done with evidence in this area.”

Edited by Richard Pretorius and Kristen Butler



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Electric Vehicle Footprints May Not Currently Be As Clean As Some Assume

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Electric Vehicle Footprints May Not Currently Be As Clean As Some Assume

By Erik Sherman

The “arms race” for electric vehicles (EV) is under way, as nations look to ways to lessen carbon emissions.

The Biden administration wants half of new cars in 2030 to be EVs. Ford plans to accelerate its EV building in the U.S. Electric Last Mile shipped its first batch of electric urban delivery trucks. Multiple manufacturers are looking at solid-state battery technology rather than lithium-ion for, of course you guessed it, EVs.

The focus isn’t surprising. The transportation sector is responsible for about 29 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Get cars and trucks to stop emitting greenhouse gases and the country could make a big dent, making EVs seem obvious.

But while there’s a lot of good, and even more potential good, in EVs, according to experts, the landscape and implications are more complex than headline stories suggest.

“To assess the carbon footprint of any product, one should think about its lifetime emissions — that is, the emissions generated throughout the different phases of the product’s lifecycle,” says Ioannis Bellos, a professor at George Mason University School of Business who has conducted research on EVs and their adoption. Currently, EVs generate more emissions during their manufacture than similar fossil fueled-powered vehicles, largely due to the production of batteries.

The current, mainstay of EV battery technology, lithium-ion, has some inherent problems, according to a 2018 study by management consulting firm Berylls Strategy Advisors. After eight years, their storage capacity drops to about 80 percent of the original and the charging rate deteriorates, which makes for an ultimately unattractive used car market and creates a need to build new cars, not use existing ones for longer.

Demand for minerals is going up, thanks to electric vehicles and other technologies. 

There are also issues of mining rare earth materials incorporated into magnets that are an essential part to higher-performance EV engines. “If you’re trying to optimize heavier vehicles that want to go very fast, you need these rare earth minerals,” says Kevin Heaslip, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech.

And many of these materials and others used in EV construction have additional environmental impacts that go beyond carbon emissions.

“If you look solely on the carbon footprint, you could get out ahead,” says Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei, director of the mining engineering program at Missouri University of Science and Technology. “But I think your big problem is a lot of the materials we need would not be mined in developed countries where the environment regulations are strict but in [an area] that are not strict.”

Byproducts of the mining process can generate runoff that moves dangerous heavy metals into drinking water supplies in poorer countries where the needed minerals and metals are frequently found, meaning developed countries could be exporting serious environmental problems to focus on carbon reduction.

Where EVs can come out ahead environmentally is in the long run. “Typical use of an electric vehicle can make up for this ‘emissions debt,’” Bellos says. The lower the operating emissions an EV, the greater a chance it will more than make up the higher manufacturing emissions over time. The amount of time needed time depends on the driving patterns, the electrical grid, and future battery technology.

It also depends on the source of electrical power.

One issue is that the sources of electricity for EVs to charge most frequently are from fossil fuels. “If you’re using renewables as a power source, that could be game changing,” says Heaslip. But that’s not so easy. Some, like wind, are at a distance from where cars typically are charging their batteries, and the longer the distance, the more power loss from inescapable resistance in electrical grids. “There are areas that could be used for energy harvesting but they’re far enough that the transmission losses are significant.”

Local generation of energy could help, but in many urban settings it might be impractical. And charging batteries is a power-hungry undertaking. Some of super-fast battery chargers use so much power to top off an EV that it’s like the electrical needs of an “entire city block for a whole day,” Heaslip says. Also, the speed of recharging an EV can’t come close to touching the brief few minutes it takes to fill a conventional car’s tank with gasoline or diesel.

This could change over time. “From my perspective, I see electric vehicles still being fairly early in their technology maturity,” Heaslip says. “That may seem counter intuitive to most people that look at the media, but there’s still a lot of optimizations of materials, a lot of optimizations of renewable energy that could be used.”

In the meanwhile, while moving to electric vehicles will be necessary, companies, investors, and the public should remember that there’s a lot of work that needs to be done and no immediate magic solution to a big and complex problem.

Edited by Bryan Wilkes



The post Electric Vehicle Footprints May Not Currently Be As Clean As Some Assume appeared first on Zenger News.

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